Institute of Criminological and Sociological Research, Belgrade
Institute of Criminological and Sociological Research, Belgrade
Institute of Criminological and Sociological Research, Belgrade
Received: March 29, 2022
Accepted: April 13, 2022
UDK: 316.47:343.811
Pages: 75-87
The concept of prison social climate is a popular conceptualization used to describe the contextual characteristics of prison that can have a significant impact on individual behavior, and describes what it is like to live and work in a prison environment, including interpersonal relationships but also the material and organizational dimensions of prison life. Previous research indicates that positive individual perceptions of the prison climate are associated with higher levels of well-being and better mental health, fewer disciplinary offenses and lower levels of aggression, as well as lower rates of recidivism. Relying on previous theoretical and empirical knowledge, the authors of this paper explore the concept of prison social climate, by summarizing the theoretical starting points on which the modern concept of prison social climate is based and developed. They also present the first instruments for assessing prison social climate, with special emphasis on the conceptual and methodological basis of research that preceded the construction of Measuring the Quality of Prison Life (MQPL) as one of the most modern and reliable instruments for measuring prison social climate.
KEY WORDS: prison, convicts, prison social climate, assessment of prison social climate, MQPL
